Project “Juan Castro Blanco National Water Park Land ownership study”
April 2008

Location:

Estudio de tenenciaAlajuela Province, extreme northeast of the Central Valley, foothills of the Central Volcanic Mountain Range

Area:

14.428 hectaress 

General comments:

This area has water sources that supply drinking water and hydropower to different communities with tourist attractions like volcanoes, virgin mountains, sulphur mines, lakes and waterfall hot springs, among others.

However, one of the biggest problems was that most of the land located in the Park was in private hands. Additionally, compounded by the lack of environmental awareness in the surrounding towns, especially for damage caused by fires, poaching, mining and marketing of animals, wild plants and deforestation, among others.

Therefore, action was required to buy the farms and comply with protection and environmental commitment.

Project Objectives:

  • Seek funding to develop a Land Ownership Program in the Juan Castro Blanco National Water Park and start buying land in the Wildlife Protected Area.
  • Perpetually ensure the protection and conservation of natural resources, especially water potential, biodiversity and scenic beauty that provide environmental goods and services to the local, national and international community.

Actions taken:

  • Training:
    • Training course for park staff on Geographic Information Systems Management.
    • Training Meetings about land ownership with the PNANJCB farm owners.
  • Establishment and implementation of basic guidelines for the management of program funds.
  • Creation of database with information on PNAJCB owners and holders
  • Equipment Purchase

Investment:

$7.000 US Dollars.